1
as in fight
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
passing the medical licensing exam was an uphill battle, but she succeeded
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in skirmish
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
a battle between rival gangs left two people lying dead on the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
soldiers who desperately wanted to forget the horrors that they had witnessed in battle
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the chess game was a real battle between two of the world's best players
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
3
as in to fight
to oppose (someone) in physical conflict
the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to oppose
to strive to reduce or eliminate
we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of battle
Justin Jouvenal The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2025
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the latest in the growing battle for women’s soccer supremacy between the NWSL and England.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
The pinstripe-laden crowd stood as Ben Rice battled through a 10-pitch at-bat against Max Scherzer in Sunday’s first inning.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for battle
Noun
The legal battle over foreign aid has been long and complicated, bouncing to the Supreme Court and back over the last six months.
—Justin Jouvenal The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2025
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the latest in the growing battle for women’s soccer supremacy between the NWSL and England.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
In addition to the tag team match and mixed tag match, Brock Lesnar and John Cena will battle one-on-one.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
The pinstripe-laden crowd stood as Ben Rice battled through a 10-pitch at-bat against Max Scherzer in Sunday’s first inning.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for battle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for battle
Noun
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Sinner eventually came through in a display of fight and quality in adversity, and now has a day’s rest to manage the problem.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Classes were offered on serving in-fight refreshments and putting on make-up.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Still one of the NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the game was full of skirmishes and a near-costly unnecessary roughness penalty late in the third against the Eagles that put the Cowboys in position to take the lead.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Ideological skirmishes over the motives and obligations of Carpenter’s music include both sincere interrogation of its feminism and smirking counteractive reprisals to that scrutiny.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In California’s strawberry fields, an ICE raid sparked widespread panic and disruption among farmworker communities.—
David Rodriguez Muñoz,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Charlotte’s second consecutive 11-play drive halted in the red zone after Harrell led the 49ers down the field with repetitive strikes through the air, finding his favorite target, Javen Nicholas, to set Charlotte up in scoring position.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The rivalry itself has been tight.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Djokovic ultimately emerged as the third man, which enriched the dynamic and added layers, creating three rivalries where previously there had been one.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 21-year-old competed on the school's competitive cheer STUNT team for three years, according to an official team roster.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Clinton has decided to join a direct rival even though City will not be competing in the Champions League this season.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The swells will continue to build and increase along east-facing shorelines through the middle of the week, the hurricane center warned.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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As the season sets in, many face low mood and energy as shorter days and cooler temperatures lead to more social isolation.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In recent years, as Bolsonaro and his allies engineered a pervasive campaign of false claims on the Brazilian internet, de Moraes led an effort to combat disinformation.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
10 Sep. 2025
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Over the past two years, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has shifted its focus to combating specific practices within surveillance advertising, particularly those involving sensitive data, lack of consent or deceptive and unfair practices.—
Jodi Daniels,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Of course feel free to cheer whenever your team has done something worth celebrating, but don’t boo the other team or obnoxiously heckle the opposing fans under the tailgate tent whenever their team falls short.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
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In another example, Francis came out in support of civil unions for same-sex couples, something previously opposed by the Vatican’s doctrine office.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/battle. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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